Malicious Code Injection in exclusive_snake_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-94361: Malicious code in exclusive_snake_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The exclusive_snake_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious scripts that compromise its integrity.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's design, which includes autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially harming developers' reputations and the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall exclusive_snake_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can prevent the installation of this package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor dependencies. If you are using Vulert, you can check your application for vulnerabilities without any installation by visiting https://vulert.com/scanner.
Conclusion
The exclusive_snake_z3n package contains a significant vulnerability that can lead to malicious code injection and pollution of the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for any vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for exclusive_snake_z3n →
FAQ
exclusive_snake_z3n is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise your project's integrity by introducing malicious code.
You should remove the exclusive_snake_z3n package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without signing up.
